Brand and Common Canker

Brand canker and common canker produce cankers on tree bark that gradually girdle branches and trunks over time. You see sunken lesions with stained wood beneath the bark. The condition develops when fungal spores enter through pruning wounds or branch stubs. Management includes removing infected branches, disinfecting pruning tools, and preventing mechanical tree injury.

Avoid injuring canes. Prune canes with disinfected, sharp knife or pruner immediately above a node. Prune affected branches well below visible symptoms and sterilize tools between cuts. Avoid pruning during wet weather, which spreads the pathogen through fresh wounds. Maintain plant vigor through proper watering and site management.